One Million-Years-Old (Human) Footprints Found At Margalla Hills (Pakistan)

Dawn ^ | 7-27-2007 | Sher Baz Khan

[blam]

1m-years-old footprints found at Margalla Hills

By Sher Baz Khan

ISLAMABAD, July 27: In what appears to be a major discovery, archaeologists have found two over one million years old human footprints preserved on a sandstone at the Margalla Hills.

The Indusians Research Cell, which is working under the supervision of world renowned archaeologist and historian Dr Ahmad Hassan Dani of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, has made the discovery, which is likely to add a new chapter to the archaeological history and heritage of the federal capital and attract visitors.

A footprint of 1 feet is in complete and well preserved form while another is broken from the finger side which is also of the same size in comparative manner. The notable marks of the feet are the clear veins and opposite folded appearance.

“A huge stone on the top of the hill is the secure home of these prints since about over one million years ago,” says A.K. Azad, an archaeologist and head of the project.

Further research may give more clues of the foot marks through anthropological and geophysical methods, he observed.

The recent discovery is the continuity of the Indusian Research Cell’s earlier research about human evolution which previously revealed a fossilised upper jaw from the site of Dhudhumber, foot and hand prints from Attock and Palaeolithic cave from Margalla hills.

Pakistan’s geomorphologic research was conducted to compare with the Alps of Europe during the period of 1930-1939 by a French mission. Since then, lots of other dimensions of the research opened the doors of scientific research in Pakistan as the country provided the glacial sequence, fossilised evidences of Pre-Cambrian to Holocene epochs, earliest evidences of the anthropoid existence, earliest cultural centre at Mehargarh (contemporary of Jericho and Jarmo) and most advanced civilisation of the world (Indus valley).

Indusians Research Cell started the second phase of the project “Post-earthquake Explorations of Human Remains in Margalla Hills” under the supervision of A.K. Azad.

According to Mr Azad the formation of the Margalla Hills goes back to the Miocene epoch. The dominant limestone of the Margalla is also mixed with the sand stone.

“So we can assume that due to availability of the water in ancient times many marks of the zoological as well botanical significance may lead to our objectives,” the young archaeologist hopes.

In 1976, Pakistan opened another chapter of human evolution, which makes case for Asian anthropoid origin from this region.

During the ‘60s and ‘70s, Pilbeam led expeditions to the Siwalik Hills badlands of northern Pakistan, searching for further Ramapithecine remains.

In March 1975 and January 1976 team members made surface recoveries of four bone fragments which fit together to form the most complete mandible recovered yet. The mandible shows that Ramapithecus did not have a parabolic, human like dental arcade, as originally thought, but rather a V-shaped, more apelike arcade. Though the shape of the arcade is not now regarded as one of the more anatomically important characters, Ramapithecus is no longer granted the high status that it once received.

Different scholars have defined the word ‘Potohar’ differently. But, anthropological research marked it, as the grand father of hominid, also known as Punjabicus found from the Potohar region.

So the government of Pakistan had given the name to this specie Potoharmans.

According to Mr Azad, the problem of human evolution is still hanging around that when and where Anthropoid got physical changes from the Apes?

After India, Kenya and China, he says important discovery was from the Potohar region from fossils of the similar species found in 1976 and 1982. The probable dating given to this specie was 20 million years.

“It has provided a missing link, which was spread of 6 million years. So Potoharmans declared as the grand father of hominid, which evolved from the different stages and reached at the Homo sapiens,” he observes.

The stories behind the similar marks are also significant in mythical associations with saints and renowned people i.e. hand prints of the Baba Guru Nanik near Hassanabdal, foot prints of Hazrat Ali in Hyderabad, foot prints of the Guru Padma Sambhava (Second reincarnation of Buddha) in Swat, Adam’s peak of Sri Lanka etc.

“If these are true than we can also claim of the mother Eve’s foot prints from Margalla Hills,” Mr Azad observed.

[SunkenCiv]

The reason I didn't ping the GGG list is because the gauntlet went down in message 3, and I didn't want to subject the members to yet another cr/evo bloodbath. Dave's ping was much later. This topic is obviously of interest to DaveLR's list members. While I think Blam would agree that the bloodbaths are just the same wheels turning in the same ruts, I think we part when I say it also makes sense to me (and probably to FR management) that an existing thread not be duplicated just to keep the antagonists separate but equal. I'd rather not see all non-political topics booted off FR -- which isn't entirely out of the question -- and would appreciate it if all the ill will be kept out of the GGG threads; for that matter, I see no point to having the ill will anywhere on FR.

I'd also like to point out (as if it's necessary), that when it gets to the point when SunkenCiv is the voice of reason, we're in bigger trouble than we thought.

---

NOT A PING LIST, merely posted to: AD from SpringBay; art_rocks; Ben Chad; Bender2; Brilliant; Buffalo Head; balch3; betty boop; blam; buffyt; Caesar Soze; Calvin Locke; CHEE; COBOL2Java; Coyoteman; Creationist; csense; DaveLoneRanger; David; Eaker; Eccl 10:2; editor-surveyor; elcid1970; fish hawk; GladesGuru; GraniteStateConservative; gcruse; gondramB; gracesdad; gunservative; Inspectorette; I_like_good_things_too; Jo Nuvark; KoRn; Kozak; Leroy S. Mort; Lijahsbubbe; Maelstorm; Maeve; Manic_Episode; Maynerd; MinuteGal; Mr. Mojo; mgstarr; NicknamedBob; narby; onedoug; org.whodat; Popocatapetl; Porterville; pax_et_bonum; RFC_Gal; RightWhale; RockinRight; razorback-bert; rogers21774; scarface367; shuckmaster; sodpoodle; spotbust1; swmobuffalo; Tanniker Smith; Turret Gunner A20; taxesareforever; traumer; Unknowing

[NicknamedBob]

I am honored to be listed among the people to whom you do not ping, but merely post.

Thanks!

[philetus]

Do you have anything scientific to contribute?”

God created science.

[Lijahsbubbe]

that when it gets to the point when SunkenCiv is the voice of reason, we're in bigger trouble than we thought.

Ruh roh....LOL

[Christopher Lincoln]

To believe that [evolution] you must believe that a hurricane or tornado goes through a junk yard and a 747 jet is formed by the tornado.

No, that's creation. Evolution is quite different.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much for your outstanding essay-post, dearest sister in Christ!

Of course you and I are ever in agreement. And truly, there is nothing in Genesis 1 to indicate God did not give creatures the ability to adapt.

Anyhoot, that is my conjecture. Ultimately it is based on the recognition that God gave us four revelations: (1) the Holy Scriptures themselves; (2) the incarnation of the Logos, the Word of the Beginning, the Son of God manifest in the man Jesus the Christ, the revelation of the full presence of Emmanuel, of “God with us,” at once fully and truly God, and fully and truly man; (3) the revelation of resurrected Jesus Christ’s Holy Spirit in our own souls; and (4) the Creation itself, the “book of Nature.”Praise God!!!

[Alamo-Girl]

But if you intended to put up Einstein as a model of atheism, I think you're barking up the wrong tree....

Indeed. Thank you for sharing all of those Einstein quotes!

[Coyoteman]

Does your posting of a purely religious post on what was started as a science thread suggest an FR policy that scientists are welcome to come to the Religion Forum and post science, especially when it directly contradicts and falsifies religious beliefs?

Could you please elucidate the FR policies on cross-posting of drastically opposing viewpoints to different forums?

[Christopher Lincoln]

Three good reasons (although on the third point it may be unfair to single out Pakistan).

[Christopher Lincoln]

The word "human" does not necessarily refer to Homo sapiens alone.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) Yeah, I get that a lot. (cough cough) ;’)

[Caesar Soze]

I didn’t mean to single out Pakistan as a purveyor of junk science and/or history. It’s just that Pakistan is the only state really involved here. The fake fossil business is worldwide.

[gcruse]

No, I wished to correct the implication that Einstein believed in a personal god. He did not. What he describes is the god of deism at the most, the watchmaker who set the watch in motion and walked away, certainly not theism.

[betty boop]

Blam has already been driven away from his thread.

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you mean he has been "banned? If so, why?

[betty boop]

Keep up the good work, SunkenCiv!

[Coyoteman]

Blam has already been driven away from his thread.

I'm sorry to hear that. Do you mean he has been "banned? If so, why?

No, he has not been banned. See his post #61.

[CottShop]

[[False. “Baraminology” is a religious-based attempt to make “kinds” seem scientific. It is a failure as science because, as its proponents admit, scripture claims have priority over all other considerations]]

What Coyote won’t tell you is that there is NO scientific reason not to study Discontinuitity- All he’ll do is tell you that becAuse believers are invovled that it can’t be true science- He gives absolutely no scientific reasoning

[[False. Young earth creationism is a denial of science.]]

Coyoteman knows htis is a flat out lie- but he lieks saying it- makes him feel important I guess

[[False. This is an intermediate fossil. Note its position in the chart which follows (hint—in the right center):]]

The pictures Coyoteman next posts of skulls have been refuted as ‘transitional species’ many many many many many many many many times on htis site- Turkana boy is a favorite ‘missing link’ skull posted about ‘transitionals’ yet a quick look on the net reveals there is no agreement amoung secularist scientists, and that many of the skulls posted in his nice little diagram amount to nothing more than either fully human or fully ape species- Turkana boys skull measurements fall within human porportions- something Coyote neglects to mention

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

[CottShop]

[[Young earth creationism, which you espouse, is anti-science by its very nature. You have to ignore, trash, explain away, or flat-out lie about much of science, from biology, to archaeology, paleontology, linguistics, geology, nuclear physics (dating studies), sedimentology (no evidence for a global flood), astronomy, genetics, Egyptology, physics (the second law of thermodynamics), and history.]]

Lol-0 See folks, Coyote lists some ‘evidences’ of Christians who get info wrong- and WHAM- the whole lump of clay is levelled in one fell swoop- Of course- He won’t take on the serious Christian science, won’t address the issues, and won’t explain away their facts- instead, what we get are a few examples of Christian sites who don’t get everythign exactly 100% correct and an insinuation that every Christian scientist must be a flat out liar as a result- Of course he goes to great lengths to defend his science by stating flat out lies about ‘transitional species’ and won’t acknoweldge any of the flat out lies that are told in the name of secular science

[[I don’t doubt that is what you are really up to. You and a few of your cohorts have driven about 90% of the scientists off this website. I don’t think it is accidental]]

You’re right- it’s a major conspiracy- we’re out to git ya- Actually Coyote- many run because their ‘science’ can’t hold up as actual science fact- the problems are too large to confront factually- they know it, and then run off and create websites that do nothign but monitor this one and sit around and bad mouth everyone here who beleives in Creation, and writes up articles with half-truths and blatant ommisions that are detrimental to their points that that they tried to peddle here about the so called inscrutbility of evolution

[betty boop]

Does your posting of a purely religious post on what was started as a science thread suggest an FR policy that scientists are welcome to come to the Religion Forum and post science, especially when it directly contradicts and falsifies religious beliefs?

If I may propose an answer to this question of yours, however provisional.

Science does not hold the monopoly on truth. It accesses a relatively small part of normal human experience -- that part which is directly observable and quantifiable. It is obvious to me that not everything in reality reduces to this criterion, this method. Which for any sane adult ought to be manifestly obvious.

To the extent that science tries to obviate the obvious, it is ridiculous. (Most of science does not do this, however. Most of science just does its job, without editorializing along the way....)

Not to put too fine a point on it, but a "science" that does that sort of thing isn't really "science."

The report of science, it seems to me, is entirely welcome here at FR. What individual posters do with the report is another matter altogether.

Anyhoot, to answer your question: scientists seem to be welcome with open arms at FR. But it seems to me legitimate science has nothing whatever to do with the "falsification of religious belief."